After requesting two state bodies investigate the sentencing decisions of Shelby County District Attorney (DA) Steve Mulroy and Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan, WREG reports that state Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, is now asking the Senate Judiciary Committee to review Mulroy’s agreements with three outside organizations. Mulroy previously announced consulting agreements with Just City, the Vera Institute and the Justice Innovation Lab. Taylor says that, “Memphians have a right to know if the agreements between the DA’s office and these outside groups are inconsistent with state laws and policies." Mulroy says any allegations of impropriety are baseless and that consulting arrangements with national expert groups are common place.

One of the most important responsibilities of the TBA is to advocate for the legal profession and our system of justice with Tennessee lawmakers. TBA’s Government Affairs team is committed to affect positive change on behalf of Tennessee attorneys when the 2024 session of the 113th General Assembly reconvenes on Jan. 9, and we need your help! Please consider joining TBA’s Grassroots Advocacy efforts to receive action alerts as relevant policy issues arise, including indigent representation. Respond to this survey to ensure that your voice is heard. 

State Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, is proposing Tennessee adopt a uniform process for conducting recalls of non-constitutional public officials, WATE reports. Calhoun says the bill would not affect constitutional officers such as governor, secretary of state, attorney general or any county leadership. Instead, it would deal with city leadership and school boards. He says a situation in his own district motivated him to propose the legislation.

Tennessee House Democrats Wednesday sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting that Attorney General Merrick Garland’s office investigate the 2019 passage of Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill. Action News 5 reports there have been allegations of attempted bribery and coercion by then-Speaker Glenn Casada. The letter reads, in part, “Before taking a final tally, Casada held the vote open for 45 minutes, meeting with lawmakers on a balcony behind the speaker’s podium to try and change their mind." They note that "media outlets" have reported that during one of these meetings, Casada unsuccessfully offered former Rep. John Mark Windle, D-Livingston, a promotion from colonel to general in the Tennessee National Guard if he changed his vote, and point out that only the governor would have the power to make that type of promotion.

State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, yesterday requested two state bodies launch investigations into the professional behavior of Shelby County District Attorney (DA) Steve Mulroy and Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan, reports the Commercial Appeal. Taylor asked the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Board of Judicial Conduct to look into two cases in which Skahan altered a162-year sentence for nonviolent offenses and changed a death penalty sentence to life in prison. Taylor told the paper that the judge and the DA had no authority to “collude to get a predetermined outcome to a hearing.”

State Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, has filed a bill to give most dependents of Tennessee veterans with a 100% disability rating a “waiver of tuition, maintenance fees and student activity fees,” allowing the student to attend any public state university or college for free. WATE News in Knoxville reports that generally, a veteran who has a 100% disability rating is someone who was injured while serving. They cannot work and are mostly unable to take care of themselves because of their condition. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Tennessee had more than 37,000 veterans with at least a 70% disability rating or higher.

Gov. Bill Lee today announced a plan to expand beyond a three-county school voucher program for low-income children by offering public money for private schooling statewide, regardless of family income, Associated Press reports. State lawmakers narrowly approved the savings accounts initiative for the three counties in 2019. The program awards eligible families around $8,100 in public tax dollars to cover private school tuition and other preapproved expenses. The newest initiative will require the approval of the state legislature. Read Gov. Lee’s press release.

Gov. Bill Lee will not propose a renewed extreme risk protection order bill when the Tennessee General Assembly returns in January, the Nashville Post reports. Addressing gun safety measures during a Monday event, the governor said that while he won't push for ERPO legislation — also known as red-flag laws — he is “looking for an opportunity in this next session to continue to work on public safety.” During last summer’s special session, Lee pushed for legislation that would have allowed guns to be confiscated from someone for up to 180 days following a court ruling that the person was a risk to public safety based on their mental health. Republican opposition in the legislature prevented the measure from moving forward.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is seeking to increase its annual budget next year by nearly $182 million, reports the Tennessee Lookout. DCS chief Margie Quin said the funds would be used to meet the rising housing, mental and physical health needs of children taken into state custody after allegations of abuse or neglect. There has been a 19% increase in the number of children needing specialized inpatient care between the 2022 and 2023. Quin noted the number of foster care placements has dropped 13%. Lawmakers previously approved a $181 million increase in the agency’s annual budget in 2022.

Tennessee Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, has asked for Gov. Bill Lee’s aid to help address rising crime issues in and around Memphis, ABC24-Memphis reports. In a letter addressed to the governor, Taylor cites recent crimes, including the murder of St. Jude employee Alexander Bulakhov. The senator is requesting unannounced "surges" of patrols from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a "monitoring" team to better track crime data, and support to hold the judicial system more accountable.